Southern IPM blog posts

Funded by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture

The Southern Region IPM Center is located at North Carolina State University, 1730 Varsity Drive, Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27606, and is sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Effective June 7, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) quarantine in a residential area of Laredo, Webb County, Texas. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from this area.

We are taking this action because APHIS confirmed two adult Mexflies on June 6 and one Mexfly larva on June 7 in the Laredo area of Texas. In cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), APHIS is responding to this confirmed detection with the establishment of a new quarantine area, which encompasses approximately 57 square miles of Webb County. APHIS is working with TDA to respond to this detection following program survey and treatment protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States.

The establishment of this quarantine area is reflected on the following designated website, which contains a description of all the current federal fruit fly quarantine areas: